state and other forests of france. 9 1 



Climate. 



The climate is temperate, and very suitable to the growth of 

 broad-leaved trees, especially the beech and oak. The winds 

 are not very dangerous, except on a few plateaux, and then pre- 

 cautions must be taken in the seeding fellings. 



Geology. 



The base of the forest is composed of Cerithic Limestone of 

 Tertiary formation. Above this limestone is Tertiary sand, of 

 much the same appearance as the Bagshot Sands at Coopers 

 Hill. In the sand large Sarcen stones are found, and on high 

 levels, masses of hard quartzite form ridges of rock, which is 

 quarried for street cobbles. 



Soil. — The soil in which the forest grows consists of a sandy 

 loam, about 20 inches deep, lying on the top of the sand. In 

 the highest parts of the forest the quartzite occasionally comes to 

 the surface, rendering such parts practically useless for forestry, 

 at any rate for the production of oak and beech. 



Area. 



The total area of the forest is 32,044 acres, which is divided 

 into sixteen working-sections, of which 27,768 acres are high 

 forest and 4276 acres coppice-with-standards. The working- 

 sections are unequal in size; for instance, the ninth working- 

 section has an area of 2760 acres and the fifth working-section 

 an area of 1496 acres. Every working-section was, up to 1902, 

 subdivided into five periodic blocks, each of which was regener- 

 ated in thirty years, and each contained on an average 440 acres. 

 A periodic block was again subdivided into compartments, 

 the number varying from eight to twelve, depending on similarity 

 of soil and growth, also on the aspect, gradient, etc. Compart- 

 ment D. of II. periodic block, in the ninth working-section, 

 contains about 43 acres, whereas compartment E of the same 

 block and section contains about 31 acres. By the last working- 

 plan revision in 1902, periodic blocks are given up, and the 

 woods in each section are regenerated successively, in accordance 

 with their age and condition. 



History. 



A century or so ago this forest produced very fine oaks, which 

 were used for the French navy. In 1672, during Louis XIV.'s 



